Canopy for child play yard

ABSTRACT

A canopy for a child play yard is provided. The canopy includes a canopy material dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the child play yard. The canopy includes at least one support rod for supporting the canopy material. The canopy material includes at least one breakaway point. The canopy material includes a skirt overhanging the child play yard. The canopy material includes a corner material for supporting the canopy over the child play yard.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/366,511 titled “CANOPY FOR CHILD PLAY YARD” filed Jun. 16, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

Aspects and embodiments of the disclosure are directed generally to a canopy for a foldable child enclosure, for example, a play pen, play yard, or crib, collectively referred to herein as a play yard.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a canopy for a child play yard. The canopy may comprise a first support rod for supporting a canopy material. The canopy material may be dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the child play yard. The canopy material may comprise at least one breakaway point.

In some embodiments, the canopy material may further comprise a skirt dimensioned to overhang the child play yard.

In some embodiments, the at least one breakaway point may be positioned on the skirt.

In some embodiments, the canopy material may be dimensioned to cover at least one corner of the child play yard. The canopy material may attach to a corner material dimensioned to be supported by the corner of the child play yard.

In some embodiments, the first support rod extends the canopy material from a first corner of the child play yard to a second corner of the child play yard.

In some embodiments, the canopy comprises a second support rod. The second support rod may extend the canopy material from a third corner of the child play yard to a fourth corner of the child play yard.

In some embodiments, the first support rod supports a front panel of the canopy material and the second support rod supports a back panel of the canopy material.

In some embodiments, the front panel is supported at a substantially right angle, and the back panel is supported at an angle smaller than a right angle.

In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least two breakaway points.

In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least one pleat.

In some embodiments, two portions of the breakaway point separate when a force of about 0.6-2.4 lbf (2.67-10.68 N) is applied to a target portion of the canopy material.

In some embodiments, the at least one breakaway point is fastened by at least one hook and loop, snap, or magnet.

In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises a pocket for the at least one support rod.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a canopy for a child play yard comprising a canopy material extending across a perimeter of the child play yard and at least one support rod for supporting the canopy material. The canopy material may comprise a skirt overhanging the child play yard.

In some embodiments, the skirt may be dimensioned to cover at least 40% of at least one side wall of the child play yard.

In some embodiments, the skirt may be dimensioned to cover at least 90% of at least one side wall of the child play yard.

In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least one breakaway point.

In some embodiments, the at least one breakaway point is positioned on the skirt.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a canopy for a child play yard comprising a canopy material extending across a perimeter of the child play yard and at least one support rod for supporting the canopy material. The canopy material may attach to a corner material dimensioned to be supported by a corner of the child play yard.

In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises more than one corner material, each corner material corresponding with a respective corner of the child play yard.

In some embodiments, a first support rod extends the canopy material from a first corner of the child play yard to a second corner of the child play yard, and a second support rod extends the canopy material from a third corner of the child play yard to a fourth corner of the child play yard.

In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least one breakaway point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a play yard;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a canopy for a play yard, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a front top view of a canopy for a play yard, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 4A-4B are back views of a canopy for a play yard, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a canopy for a play yard in a folded conformation, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a canopy for a play yard mounted on a play yard, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a canopy for a play yard mounted on a play yard, according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a back view of a canopy for a play yard mounted on a play yard, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Parents or caregivers of young children may place the children in an enclosure, such as a play pen, play yard, or crib, referred to herein collectively as a play yard, that provides for the children to play with toys or rest while preventing the children from wandering and potentially injuring themselves. Exemplary play yards may include a frame that supports a lower floor, for example, a mattress or other soft surface, and upright legs and cross rails that support an enclosing material, for example, a fabric or mesh. In various implementations the frame may lock in an open position during use. One example of a play yard is illustrated generally at 10 in FIG. 1 . Exemplary play yards are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0337983, filed Apr. 29, 2020, titled PLAY YARD, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0393050, filed Jun. 17, 2020, titled PLAY YARD MATTRESS ATTACHMENT, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Disclosed herein is a canopy for the play yard. The canopy may form a covered or semi-covered enclosure over the play yard, providing shade and protection from the elements. The canopy may include a canopy material and at least one support rod. The canopy material may be dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the child play yard. In some embodiments, the canopy material may be dimensioned to extend across a perimeter of the child play yard. One example of a canopy is shown generally at 100 in FIG. 6 .

A front view of an exemplary canopy 100 is shown in FIG. 2 . The canopy 100 may comprise a canopy material dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the child play yard. In certain embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 7 , the canopy material may extend across a perimeter of the play yard 10. The canopy material may be a flexible or semi-flexible fabric material. Exemplary fabric materials include polyester, nylon, and blends thereof. In some embodiments, the canopy material may provide ultraviolet (UV) protection. For instance, the canopy material may have an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of at least 30+ or at least 50+. In some embodiments, the canopy material may be moisture resistant.

The canopy 100 may comprise at least one support rod 120 for supporting the canopy material. The support rod 120 may support the canopy material in a tented position, allowing a child within the play yard to have headspace above the perimeter of the play yard. The exemplary support rod 120 of FIG. 2 is arched. However, the support rod may have any configuration capable of supporting the canopy material. The support rod may be capable of conforming to a storage position. In some embodiments, the support rod may have rounded corners to reduce the likelihood of puncturing the canopy material. In some embodiments, the canopy material may comprise a pocket for maintaining the support rod 120 in place.

In some embodiments, the support rod may be flexible and conformable into a spiral for storage, the support rod may be telescoping, or the support rod may be formed of multiple segments, optionally comprising a cord stringing the segments together. The support rod may be formed of a plastic or metal material. Exemplary plastic materials include nylon, acrylic, polypropylene, and polyethylene (such as cross-linked polyethylene (PEX)). Exemplary metal materials include aluminum and stainless steel. Other flexible supportive materials may be used.

The canopy material may comprise at least one breakaway point. One exemplary breakaway point is denoted as 116 a in FIG. 2 and shown in more detail in the blown-up portion of FIG. 2 . The breakaway point may refer to a portion of the canopy material having a slit or formed of two portions designed to separate from each other to release tension on the canopy material. Two portions (115 a, 115 b) of breakaway point 116 a are shown in FIG. 2 .

In some embodiments, the two portions 115 a, 115 b of the breakaway point 116 a separate when a force of 0.6-2.4 lbf (2.67-10.68 N) is applied to a target portion of the canopy material. For breakaway point 116 a, the target portion of the canopy material may be front panel 130, for example, a substantially centrally located target portion of front panel 130. The breakaway point 116 a may be designed to separate as a result of the force typically applied by a child, for example, an infant, toddler, preschooler, or school-age child, when standing or pushing against the target portion of the canopy material. In certain exemplary embodiments, the breakaway point 116 a may be designed to be unfastenable or separable by a child of at least 15 lbs. (6.8 kg). In certain embodiments, the two portions of the breakaway point may be separable by a child of at least 15 lbs. (6.8 kg), at least 20 lbs. (9.1 kg), at least 25 lbs. (11.3 kg), or at least lbs. (13.6 kg).

The at least one breakaway point may be fastened by bringing together fasteners 118 a positioned on first portion 115 a and corresponding fasteners 118 b positioned on second portion 115 b. The number and dimensions of the fasteners may be selected to be unfastenable by the force applied to the target portion of the canopy material. Each portion 115 a, 115 b may comprise one, two, three, four, five, or more fasteners. In some embodiments, the fasteners may comprise at least one hook and loop, snap, or magnet.

The force for separating the two portions of a breakaway point may correspond generally to the peel strength of a hook and loop fastener (e.g., 1.2 PIW) having a width of 0.5-2.0 inches. The force for separating the two portions of the breakaway point may be 0.6-1.2 lbf (2.67-5.34 N), 1.2 lbf—1.8 lbf (5.34-8.01 N), 1.8 lbf—2.4 lbf (8.01-10.68 N), about 0.6 lbf (2.67 N), about 1.2 lbf (5.34 N), about 1.8 lbf (8.01 N), or about 2.4 lbf (10.68 N). The canopy material may comprise a skirt 112 dimensioned to overhang the child play yard 10. The skirt 112 may be dimensioned to cover at least a portion of a side wall of the play yard 10. In some embodiments, skirt 112 may be dimensioned to cover at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of the side wall of the play yard. In some embodiments, skirt 112 may be dimensioned to cover substantially all of the side wall of the play yard.

At least one breakaway point 116 a may be positioned on the skirt 112, as shown in FIG. 2 . For example, at least one breakaway point 116 a may be positioned at a distal end of the skirt 112. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 , distal end of skirt 112 forms second portion of breakaway point 115 b.

The front panel 130 may comprise a viewing window 132 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 . Viewing window 132 may be an opening in the front panel (FIG. 3 ) or may be formed of a mesh or viewable fabric material (FIG. 6 ). Viewing window 132 is generally accessible when slide-fasteners 134 are actuated to an open position.

The canopy 100 may comprise one or more branding elements 136, as shown generally in FIG. 2 .

The edges of the canopy 100 may comprise border elements 124, as shown in the blown-up portion of FIG. 2 . Border elements 124 may extend across a portion or substantially all edges of the canopy material. Border elements 124 may be formed of or comprise an elastic or other fortified canopy material.

The first support rod 120 may generally extend the canopy material from a first corner of the child play yard 10 to a second corner of the child play yard 10 in support of front panel 130. The canopy may comprise a back panel supported by the support rod or supported by a second support rod. Exemplary back panel 140 is shown in FIG. 3 , supported by second support rod 122. The second support rod 122 may extend the canopy material from a third corner of the child play yard 10 to a fourth corner of the child play yard 10. In certain embodiments, the canopy 100 may also comprise a side or upper panel 150, as shown in FIG. 3 .

The front panel 130 and back panel 140 may be supported at substantially the same angle or at different angles. In some embodiments, the front panel 130 may be supported at a substantially right angle. The back panel 140 may be supported at a substantially right angle. The back panel may be supported at an angle smaller than a right angle, for example, about 90°-60°, about 60°-45°, about 45°-30°, or less than about 30°. Exemplary canopy 100 shown in FIG. 7 has a back panel supported at an angle smaller than a right angle.

The front panel 130 may comprise a skirt 112 a as shown in FIG. 3 . The back panel 140 may comprise a skirt 112 b as shown in FIGS. 4A-4B. In some embodiments, the front panel skirt 112 a and the back panel skirt 112 b may extend about the same length over the child play yard 10. In some embodiments, the front panel skirt 112 a may cover at least a portion of the side wall of the play yard and the back panel skirt 112 b may cover a portion of the side wall of the play yard larger than the portion covered by front panel skirt 112 a. The side panel may be dimensioned to extend from the front panel skirt 112 a to the back panel skirt 112 b, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7 .

In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least two breakaway points. Two exemplary breakaway points 116 a, 116 b are shown in FIGS. 2 and 4B. At least one breakaway point 116 b may be positioned on the skirt 112 b of back panel 140, as shown in FIG. 4B. For example, at least one breakaway point 116 b may be positioned at a substantially central location of the skirt 112 b. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 4A-4B, foldable portion 144 of the back panel 140 forms one portion of breakaway point 116 b. Skirt 112 b forms a second portion of the breakaway point 116 b. Fasteners 118 a are positioned on an internally facing side of foldable portion 144. Corresponding fasteners 118 b are positioned on an externally facing side of skirt 112 b. FIG. 8 is a back view of canopy 100 mounted on play yard 10.

The two portions of breakaway point 116 b formed by foldable portion 144 and skirt 112 b may separate when a force of 0.6-2.4 lbf (2.67-10.68 N) is applied to a target portion of the canopy material. For breakaway point 116 b, the target portion of the canopy material may be back panel 140 or upper panel 150, for example, a substantially centrally located target portion of back panel 140 or upper panel 150. The substantially centrally located target portion of back panel 140 may be positioned on or around foldable portion 144.

The breakaway point 116 b may be designed to separate as a result of the force typically applied by a child, for example, an infant, toddler, preschooler, or school-age child, when standing or pushing against the target portion of the canopy material. In certain exemplary embodiments, the breakaway point 116 b may be designed to be unfastenable or separable by a child of at least 15 lbs. (6.8 kg). In certain embodiments, the two portions of the breakaway point may be separable by a child of at least 15 lbs. (6.8 kg), at least 20 lbs. (9.1 kg), at least 25 lbs. (11.3 kg), or at least 30 lbs. (13.6 kg). The number and dimensions of the fasteners may be selected to be unfastenable by the force applied to the target portion of the canopy material, as previously described.

The back panel 140 may comprise a viewing window 148 as shown in FIG. 4B. Viewing window 148 may be an opening in the back panel or may be formed of a mesh or viewable fabric material. Viewing window 148 is generally accessible when foldable portion 144 is in an open position. Back panel 140 may comprise a support strip for supporting foldable portion 144 in the open position. The support strip may be positioned on an internally facing side of foldable portion 144. The support strip may be held together with a fastener, such as a hook and loop, snap, or magnet. The support strip may be held together with tie ends.

In some embodiments, the canopy material comprises at least one pleat. Exemplary pleat 142 is shown in FIG. 4A. The at least one pleat 142 may be positioned on back panel 140. In some embodiments, the at least one pleat 142 may be positioned on the foldable portion 144 of back panel 140. The at least one pleat 142 may be designed to reduce tension on the canopy material. The at least one pleat 142 may be dimensioned to allow the fasteners to be unfastenable by the force applied to the target portion of the canopy material, for example, the force applied by a child when standing or pushing against the target portion of the canopy material.

The canopy material may be dimensioned to cover at least one corner of the child play yard. The canopy material may attach to a corner material dimensioned to be supported by the corner of the child play yard, for example, resting on top of the corner of the play yard. An exemplary corner material 114 is shown in the blown-up portion of FIG. 2 . The corner material 114 may be dimensioned to support and localize the canopy 100 over play yard 10.

The canopy 100 may comprise one, two, three, or four corner materials 114. For example, the canopy material may comprise more than one corner material, each corner material corresponding with a respective corner of the child play yard. Two front corner materials 114 a, 114 b are shown in FIG. 3 , in which viewing window 132 is accessible.

The child play yard may be foldable into a storage conformation, as shown generally in FIG. 5 . The storage conformation of the play yard may be dimensioned to fit into a storage container 160 shown in FIG. 5 . The storage container 160 may comprise a slide fastener 164. The storage container 160 may comprise a loop or handle 162. In some embodiments, storage container 160 may be formed of the canopy material. For instance, storage container 160 may be adjacent to an internally facing side of the canopy material. Optionally, one side of storage container 160 may be the internally facing side of the canopy material. Thus, storage container 160 may be an internal pocket of the canopy 100, for example, a pocket on the internally facing side of front panel 130, back panel 140, upper panel 150, skirt 112 a, or skirt 112 b.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a child play system comprising a play yard 10 and a canopy 100 mountable on the play yard 10. The canopy 100 may be dimensioned to correspond with the play yard 10. For instance, the canopy 100 may comprise one or more corners, optionally comprising a corner material 114 a, 114 b, positioned to correspond with one or more respective corners of the play yard 10. In use, the canopy 100 may be mounted on the play yard 10. The canopy 100 may generally remain mounted on the play yard 10 even after separation of the portions of the breakaway points 116 a, 116 b. Thus, the breakaway points 116 a, 116 b are not generally associated with dismounting of the canopy 100 from the play yard 10.

An exemplary child play system is shown in the drawings of FIGS. 6-8 . FIG. 6 is a front view of the canopy 100 mounted on play yard 10. FIG. 7 is a side view of canopy 100 mounted on play yard 10. FIG. 8 is a back view of canopy 100 mounted on play yard 10.

The function and advantages of these and other embodiments can be better understood from the following example. The example is intended to be illustrative in nature and not considered to be limiting the scope of the disclosure.

Example: Internal Safety Assessment

The play yard canopy is designed to reduce or avoid entanglement of a child who is attempting to climb over the play yard wall. A test was performed to determine whether a child having about 6 months of age of below average size could become entangled in the canopy when attempting to climb over a side wall of the play yard. The tested canopy included a front panel breakaway point and a back panel breakaway point fastened by hook and loop fasteners.

A 15 lb. 8 in. diameter ball was used as a test weight to simulate the child. A child growth and development chart shows the fifth percentile of children having 6 months of age weigh about 15 lbs. and have a height of about 25.5 in. With the canopy assembled onto the play yard, the test weight was gently pushed or rolled over a center point of a top rail of each side wall of the play yard. The test weight was allowed to fall to the ground.

The simulated event showed the test weight was able to fall to the ground on all four sides of the play yard. While testing the front and lateral sides of the canopy, the test weight caused the tensioning hook and loop fastener to tear away. While testing the back side of the canopy, the test weight fell freely through the canopy material breakaway point, without release of the tensioning hook and loop fastener.

Thus, it is believed a child of at least 15 lb. will not become entangled in the canopy while trying to climb over the play yard wall.

The disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other examples and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional terms.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this disclosure, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A canopy for a child play yard comprising: a first support rod for supporting a canopy material; wherein the canopy material is dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the child play yard and comprises at least one breakaway point.
 2. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the canopy material further comprises a skirt dimensioned to overhang the child play yard.
 3. The canopy of claim 2, wherein the at least one breakaway point is positioned on the skirt.
 4. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the canopy material is dimensioned to cover at least one corner of the child play yard and attaches to a corner material dimensioned to be supported by the corner of the child play yard.
 5. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the first support rod extends the canopy material from a first corner of the child play yard to a second corner of the child play yard.
 6. The canopy of claim 5, further comprising a second support rod extending the canopy material from a third corner of the child play yard to a fourth corner of the child play yard.
 7. The canopy of claim 6, wherein the first support rod supports a front panel of the canopy material and the second support rod supports a back panel of the canopy material.
 8. The canopy of claim 7, wherein the front panel is supported at a substantially right angle, and the back panel is supported at an angle smaller than a right angle.
 9. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the canopy material comprises at least two breakaway points.
 10. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the canopy material comprises at least one pleat.
 11. The canopy of claim 1, wherein two portions of the breakaway point separate when a force of about 0.6-2.4 lbf (2.67-10.68 N) is applied to a target portion of the canopy material.
 12. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the at least one breakaway point is fastened by at least one hook and loop, snap, or magnet.
 13. The canopy of claim 1, wherein the canopy material comprises a pocket for the at least one support rod.
 14. A canopy for a child play yard comprising: a canopy material extending across a perimeter of the child play yard; and at least one support rod for supporting the canopy material, wherein the canopy material comprises a skirt overhanging the child play yard.
 15. The canopy of claim 14, wherein the skirt is dimensioned to cover at least 40% of at least one side wall of the child play yard.
 16. The canopy of claim 14, wherein the skirt is dimensioned to cover at least 90% of at least one side wall of the child play yard.
 17. The canopy of claim 14, wherein the canopy material comprises at least one breakaway point.
 18. The canopy of claim 17, wherein the at least one breakaway point is positioned on the skirt.
 19. A canopy for a child play yard comprising: a canopy material extending across a perimeter of the child play yard; and at least one support rod for supporting the canopy material, wherein the canopy material attaches to a corner material dimensioned to be supported by a corner of the child play yard.
 20. The canopy of claim 19, wherein the canopy material comprises more than one corner material, each corner material corresponding with a respective corner of the child play yard.
 21. The canopy of claim 19, wherein a first support rod extends the canopy material from a first corner of the child play yard to a second corner of the child play yard, and a second support rod extends the canopy material from a third corner of the child play yard to a fourth corner of the child play yard.
 22. The canopy of claim 19, wherein the canopy material comprises at least one breakaway point. 